Louvre Museum Opening Threatened by Staff Strike Amid Operational and Security Challenges

The Louvre Museum's planned opening on December 15, 2025, is at risk as its employees prepare for a strike over deteriorating working conditions and insufficient staffing. The strike, called by unions CGT, CFDT, and Sud, has led to the museum closing early at 9 AM for a general assembly where staff will vote on whether to continue the strike, with results expected by 10 AM.

Union representatives emphasize that visitors currently face a "real obstacle course" due to the degraded service levels. Christian Galani of the CGT anticipates a strong turnout for the strike, pointing to chronic understaffing as a key issue. To avoid disruption during the high-traffic holiday season, Culture Minister Rachida Dati met with union officials last week, promising to reconsider a proposed €5.7 million cut to the museum's public funding for 2026; the Louvre received €98.2 million in state subsidies in 2024. While CFDT described the talks as calm and constructive, CGT noted no significant progress has been made.

Compounding the staff unrest, the Louvre is grappling with a major security breach following the October 19 heist in which eight Crown jewels were stolen and remain missing. The museum's president, Laurence des Cars, is working alongside Philippe Jost, appointed to conduct a thorough reorganization of the institution. Jost’s mission begins early next year with recommendations slated by the end of February 2026.

Meanwhile, a Senate committee continues investigations into the museum's operational failures, including two ignored audits and the circumstances that allowed the heist. Former president Jean-Luc Martinez and current president des Cars are due to testify. This scrutiny and staff dissatisfaction highlight the critical challenges facing this iconic cultural institution as it attempts to stabilize its operations and security.